Intro

Originating perhaps with the dawn of civilization, magic is the manipulation of unseen forces to cause change in both the realm in which we live and the realm of the unknown. Considered alternately to be both a science and an art, it has been a word used down through the centuries to describe the occurrences of many natural phenomena that were not yet explained by science, such as certain herbs having a healing affect, magnetism, the turning seasons of the crop, and the elements.

Magic played an everyday part in the lives of people living close to the land (see also: shamanism), as their survival depended on the health of their crops, and living in harmony with the earth is a basic tenet of many of the modern revivals of magic and witchcraft, such as Wicca and various NewAge movements. During the Renaissance period in Europe the appearance of secret societies and scholar-magicians brought a newer emphasis on the actual controlling of the forces of nature by harnessing the power of both spirits/demons and of the human mind, which gave rise to the popularity of cabala, an ancient, esoteric Jewish system, and alchemy. These scholars were perhaps the first scientists, attempting to discover how the realm of the spiritual interacted with the realm of the physical in order to cause drastic changes in tangible matter.

Magic has experienced a vast reappearance in the 20th century with the popularity of Aleister Crowley, who, consulting many of the ancient systems, devised his own brand of ceremonial magic. He suggested the spelling of the word "magic" be made with a "k" at the end to signify the difference between stageshow conjuring magic and serious occult magic, and that device is used almost exclusively now in reference to the occult. He is infamous for referring to himself as "The Great Beast", but left behind a great following of serious students of the occult.[3]

"Practitioners of magic down through the ages have done so in a wide variety of ways. Most often, there is a great deal of sombre ritual and ceremonial performance, aimed at altering the magician's consciousness in order to promote a conducive state for magic to take place. In the earliest earth-based (pagan) religions, the seasons were celebrated, and rituals were in a serious, but celebratory tone. The cunning women of folk-medicine often had no elaborate ceremonies to follow, and only practiced the knowledge passed down through the generations of their families. In more native religions, shamanistic magic is also very ritual oriented, including many sacred objects and mind-altering experiences to guide the shaman. Modern magic, too, depends heavily on ceremony and ritual. Objects included in magical workings (ancient and modern) often include(d) knives (athames), swords, wooden wands, chalices, candles, salt, various containers (for holding herbs, incense, water, wine and other necessary items), writing instruments for drawing various magical symbols, chalk for marking out the circle in which the ritual is performed, bells, and other sacred objects. The magician wears clothing that is designated for ritual purpose only, and often bathes before the ritual in order to purify him/herself." [4]

The most dangerous form of black magic is the scientific perversion of occult power for the gratification of personal desire. Its less complex and more universal form is human selfishness, for selfishness is the fundamental cause of all worldly evil. A man will barter his eternal soul for temporal power, and down through the ages a mysterious process has been evolved which actually enables him to make this exchange. In its various branches the black art includes nearly all forms of ceremonial magic, necromancy, witchcraft, sorcery, and vampirism. Under the same general heading are also included mesmerism and hypnotism, except when used solely for medical purposes, and even then there is an element of risk for all concerned. Though the demonism of the Middle Ages seems to have disappeared, there is abundant evidence that in many forms of modern thought--especially the so-called "prosperity" psychology, "willpower-building" metaphysics, and systems of "high-pressure" salesmanship black magic has merely passed through a metamorphosis, and although its name be changed its nature remains the same. [5]

10There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.

So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

- "The majority of modern mediumistic apparitions are but elemental creatures masquerading through bodies composed of thought substance supplied by the very persons desiring to behold these wraiths of decarnate beings." - ( Manly P. Hall in Ceremonial Magick and Sorcery)

- "…in the arcanum of magic it is declared that ‘he controls the soul who controls the blood of another.’ " - Manly P. Hall

First. The visible universe has an invisible counterpart, the higher planes of which are peopled by good and beautiful spirits; the lower planes, dark and foreboding, are the habitation of evil spirits and demons under the leadership of the Fallen Angel and his ten Princes.

Second. By means of the secret processes of ceremonial magic it is possible to contact these invisible creatures and gain their help in some human undertaking. Good spirits willingly lend their assistance to any worthy enterprise, but the evil spirits serve only those who live to pervert and destroy.

Third. It is possible to make contracts with spirits whereby the magician becomes for a stipulated time the master of an elemental being.

Fourth. True black magic is performed with the aid of a demoniacal spirit, who serves the sorcerer for the length of his earthly life, with the understanding that after death the magician shall become the servant of his own demon. For this reason a black magician will go to inconceivable ends to prolong his physical life, since there is nothing for him beyond the grave.

Wicca comes across as an attractive religion because it portrays a strong moral code, promises peace and harmony with the universe and offers its followers the ability to tap into a supernatural source of power to be used for the benefit of mankind. It is a nature based religion and wiccans believe that they are tapping into an energy source that is naturally occurring in the world around us, and merely needs to be channelled in the right direction.

So what is demon possession in Haiti’s Voodooism? According to the Haitians a spirit which they call "Loa" joins a person like a rider mounts a horse. The spirit then controls the person like a rider. The possessed person is called a "chual" which means horse, and the spirit is said to mount or saddle his victim. Blood sacrifices are often associated with the demon, and the possessed person will drink the blood from the sacrificed animal. Polished stones, and herbs, and trance and dissociative states are used to attract spirits. While the Monarch slaves have trauma-based dissociative states, the practitioners of Voodoo have ritually induced dissociative states. Voodoo rituals will involve chanting, drums, at times handclapping and frenzied dancing to induce the dissociative states.

In fact, several features have been identified which bring about dissociative states in the black religions of the Caribbean and South America. First they have dancing to a pronounced and rapid beat. Next, the induction into the dissociative state frequently follows a period of starvation and/or overbreathing (hyperventilation). The beginning of the demonic possession is characterized by a brief period of muscle inhibitions, or a collapse. The person who is experienced at being possessed acquires a specific behavior pattern for the deity that is supposedly controlling it. And finally, the head and limbs may tremor under trance, and the person may become dissociative enough that they can pick up red hot irons. The possessed can be conscious, semiconscious, or subconscious. [6] (edited)

Voodoo has been known to be the magic of the poor and oppressed. It has been a way for black slaves to rebel against their white masters. In the early days of Haiti, the slave owners feared the sorcery of their slaves. They felt that the "black carbonaro" were dedicated to the destruction of whites. This fear still exists today. In fact most Haitians still see whites as their enemies. Francois Duvalier ("Papa Doc") was reputed to have used Voodoo as a tool to control his people. He also stressed "negritude" which is explained as a pride in blackness and African heritage.

"In the 16th century Spencer St. John (a 19th century British consul) wrote a book (in 1884) saying that Voodoo rites assisted in the murder and eating of children, in honor of the serpent god. W. H. Seabrook was in Haiti in the twentieth century. He saw Voodoo rituals from 1915-1933, and wrote about his observations of what he called "sinister practices."[7]

There are also some instances in which the loa recognize the higher authority of Jesus Christ, even as happened in New Testament times. Even given the peaceful co-existence that seems to exist between Roman Catholicism and voodoo, anthropologist Francis Huxley relates isolated instances in which loa prohibit people from going to church and forbid them to "hear the words of the Gospel." [8]
Some of the side effects of Voodoo possession (which Parallels with Biblical demon possession) are: Exchange of personality, Clairvoyance, Unusual strength, Moral impurity, Seizures and convulsions

Demonology is the systematic study of demons. To the extent that it refers to theology elaborating the meaning of sacred texts, demonology is an orthodox branch of theology. The most extensive statement of western Christian demonology is the Malleus Maleficarum of Jacob Sprenger and Heinrich Kramer, which attempted to prove that the existence and power of witchcraft were an integral part of the Roman Catholic faith. In another sense, demonology refers to catalogues that attempt to name and set a hierarchy to evil spirits. In this sense, demonology is the mirror image of angelology, which attempts to compile the same information for good spirits.

In Christian tradition, demons are fallen angels, so demonology could be considered a branch of angelology. However, many databases of demonology seem to be compiled for the assistance of those who would invoke evil spirits, containing instructions on how to summon them and (hopefully) bend them to the conjuror's will. The grimoires of occult magic are the tomes that contain the lore of this version of demonology.

The existence of a malevolent supernatural personality who works to thwart the will of a good God is a central tenet of both Christianity and Islam. These faiths, in turn, derive the Satan or Shaitan figure from Judaism. It is believed by many scholars that (Apostate) Judaism received the concept from Zoroastrianism, wherein a good god known as Ahura Mazda is engaged in a cosmic battle with an evil god known as Angra Mainyu. The New Testament explicitly affirms the existence of lesser adversary spirits, as does the Qur'an. However, the Torah presents Satan as a member of God's heavenly court who acts as a prosecuting attorney under God's commandment, seeking God's permission to test the virtue of Job. In Christianity Satan is the opposing force of all evil in conjunction with the all-good god and human Jesus, healing man from his original sin.

Some branches of Buddhism affirm the existence of Hells peopled by demons who torment sinners and tempt mortals to sin, or who seek to thwart their enlightenment. Hinduism contains traditions of combats between its gods and various adversaries, such as the combat of Indra and Vritra.

"I had an experience a couple of years ago i was at a festival for summer solstice and dancing in a drum circle with a fire, the drumbeats took over the movement of my body and i danced seemingly involuntarily, eventually energy was radiated up and down my body, it was as if lightening was coming out of my hands, before it was over the energy exploded out of the top of my head into the sky and i was magnetized to the ground, then i began hallucinating and became aware, and afraid, and pulled myself back very quickly, i experience hallucinations for months afterward, and still have pain in my spine, and up towards my shoulders and neck, it's like there's something attached to my back, i can't explain, also i have had trouble with controlling my thoughts wandering, and maintaining focus on certain things without becoming entranced. is there anyone that can help me with this? is there anything that i can do? i'm extrasenstive to pot also, it now has a reverse/paranoia effect on my, and loss of sexual desire." [12]

Theosophy is a religious philosophy with emphasis on mysticism, esoteric doctrine, occultism, monism and Eastern philosophy. Theosophy though ancient in origin is presently promoted through the Theosophical Society, founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and is espoused by the New Age Movement. It is through the ideas and tenents of theosophy that the many diverse groups within the New Age find a common ground of purpose. The Theosophical Society affirms the following objectives:

(1) to form a nucleus of the universal brotherhood of humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour;

(2) to encourage the study of comparative religion, philosophy, and science; and

(3) to investigate unexplained laws of nature and the powers latent in man.

One of the society's most controversial claims concerns the existence of a brotherhood of Great Masters or Adepts, who, it is asserted, have perfected themselves and are directing the spiritual evolution of humanity. (Ency. Brit:Vol 18, pg. 277) One of the fundamental principles of theosophy is that all souls are identified with the Universal Over-Soul and are obliged to undergo a cyclic pilgrimage through the Cycle of Incarnation. [13]

It was in 1873 that she emigrated to New York City. Impressing people with her psychic abilities, she was spurred on to continue her mediumship. Mediumship (among other psychical and spiritual sciences of the time), based upon the quasi-religion known as Spiritualism which began at Rochester, NY, was a widely popular and fast-spreading field upon which Blavatsky based her career. Throughout her career she claimed to have demonstrated physical and mental psychic feats which included levitation, clairvoyance, out-of-body projection, telepathy, and clairaudience. Another claim of hers was materialization, that is, producing physical objects out of nothing, though in general, her interests were more in the area of 'theory' and 'laws' rather than demonstration. (Wikipedia)

1 Samuel 28:7 "Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor."

1 Chronicles 10:13 "So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it"

Leviticus 20:27 "A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them."

Deuteronomy 18:9-11 "When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. "

2 Chronicles 33:6 "And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger."

2 Kings 21:6 "And he (Manasseh) made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger."

Necromancy is divination by raising the spirits of the dead. The word derives from the Greek nekros "dead" and manteia "divination". It has a subsidiary meaning reflected in an alternative and archaic form of the word, nigromancy, in which the magical force of 'dark powers' is gained from or by acting upon corpses. A practitioner of necromancy is a necromancer. [14]

The historian Strabo (Strabo, xvi. 2, 39, νεκρομαντεις) refers to necromancy as the principal form of divination amongst the people of Persia; and it is believed to also have been widespread amongst the peoples of Chaldea (particularly amongst the Sabians or star-worshippers), Etruria and Babylonia. The Babylonian necromancers themselves were called Manzazuu or Sha'etemmu and the spirits they raised were called Etemmu.

In the Odyssey (XI), Ulysses makes a voyage to Hades, the Underworld, and raises the spirits of the dead using spells which he had learnt from Circe. His intention was to invoke the shade of Tiresias, but he was unable to summon it alone without the accompaniment of others.

There are also many references to necromancy in the Bible. The Book of Deuteronomy (XVIII 9–12) explicitly warns the Israelites against the Canaanite practice of divination from the dead. This warning was not always heeded: King Saul asked the Witch of Endor to invoke the shade of Samuel, for example, and there are many other notable evocations of the dead within the Bible. Some might argue that Jesus Christ's raising of Lazarus from the dead was a prima facie case of necromancy.

Norse mythology also contains examples of necromancy, such as the scene in the Voluspa in which Odin summons a seeress from the dead to tell him of the future. In Grogaldr, the first part of Svipdag summons his dead volva mother, Groa, to cast spells for him.

The 17th century Rosicrucian Robert Fludd describes Goetic necromancy as consisting of "diabolical commerce with unclean spirits, in rites of criminal curiosity, in illicit songs and invocations and in the evocation of the souls of the dead".

Modern souces, channeling and Spiritualism verge on necromancy when the invoked spirits are asked to reveal future events.

Necromancy may also be dressed up as sciomancy, a branch of theurgic magic.

Ceremonial Magick and Sorcery By Manly P. Hall, 33°. An Holy Excerpt from his Greate Alchymeckal Worke of 1928: The Secret Teachings of All Ages: An Encyclopaedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic and Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy.

Human sacrifices

"In hard core satanic groups they believe the best way to raise the energy are either the sexual act or by murdering something, either an animal or a person...an enormous amount of energy is released...with a human being there is even more energy released...if you want to raise the ultimate kind of power you sacrifice someone. The first is the baby as there is a huge amount of life energy, next is the virgin, and finally anybody." - Bill Schnoebelen (video: Interview with an Ex Vampire Part 5)

For the highest spiritual working one must accordingly choose that victim which contains the greatest and purest force. A male child of perfect innocence and high intelligence is the most satisfactory and suitable victim. For evocations it would be more convenient to place the blood of the victim in the Triangle — the idea being that the spirit might obtain from the blood this subtle but physical substance which was the quintessence of its life in such a manner as to enable it to take on a visible and tangible shape. Those magicians who object to the use of blood have endeavored to replace it with incense. For such a purpose the incense of Abramelin may be burnt in large quantities. Dittany of Crete is also a valuable medium. Both these incenses are very catholic in their nature, and suitable for almost any materialization. But the bloody sacrifice, though more dangerous, is more efficacious; and for nearly all purposes human sacrifice is the best. (Excerpt from the book “Magick in Theory and Practice” by Aleister Crowley CHAPTER XII - OF THE BLOODY SACRIFICE: AND MATTERS COGNATE)

Aleister Crowley is a name recognized around the world as a deceased leader of the occult. Passport magazine (1986) describes how Crowley maintained a lifelong attitude of setting himself up in god’s place. The article describes Crowley’s involvement in similar activities: “For a time, he lived with disciples at the Abbey of Thelema...near Cefalu in Sicily, Italy. Satanism was practiced at the Abbey (of Thelema) and animal sacrifices were offered up to the devil by the men and women who lived there. After finding out about the black magic rituals taking place at the abbey, the Italian government investigated and discovered that human infants born to the disciples were also being killed in rituals. Crowley was expelled from Italy.” (Passport Magazine, 1986).[16]

"Sexual vampirism goes on and this explains why there is an epidemic of child sexual abuse among Masons, as they believe (also commonly held among Illuminists) that if you have sex with a child you steal some of their youth and that in turn makes you live longer, and if you have sex with lots of children and the younger the better, you can live virtually forever and this is the promise held out by Masons."--Bill Schnoebelen (Interview with an Ex-Vampire).

Enochian magic is a system of angelic magic, or theurgy that was delivered to the Elizabethan astrologer, cartographer, mathematician, magician, and personal advisor to Queen Elizabeth, Dr. John Dee (1527-1608) through the mediumistic abilities of his scryer, Edward Kelley (1555-1595). The purposes of Enochian magic are to summon and command lesser spirits and angels and receive insight from them by opening the dimensional gates to the angelic realm by means of the Enochian Keys, or Calls, but modern Enochian Magicians use the magic for their own personal reasons. During the years 1582-1587 Dr. Dee sat at his table and transcribed the visions and spirit communications that were being transmitted through Edward Kelley as he scryed into his crystal ball. The spirits revealed themselves to be angels, in fact they claimed to be the very same angels who had taught the Old Testament prophet Enoch the secret wisdom of God. It seems strange that these beings would choose Kelley as a medium since he was reputed to have been involved in necromancy and black magic before meeting Dr. John Dee[17], but Kelley had natural ability as a scryer that proved to be invaluable to Dee. Over the five year scrying sessions and communications with the spirits who claimed to be angelic beings a complex and intriguing system of angel magic was revealed to Dr. Dee which included various symbols including the Table of Practice, the Ensigns of Creation, the Sigillum Aemeth, the Enochian alphabet, the Watchtowers, the Princes and Kings of the angelic realms and their sigils, the Great Table and the Enochian Keys. The records of these scrying sessions and all of the details that were delivered through Kelley were meticulously recorded by John Dee and today the vast majority of the records can be found at the British Museum.[18]

Dee’s Speculum or Mirror (an obsidian Aztec cult object in the shape of a hand-mirror, brought to Europe in the late 1520s)[1]

The Sigil of Ameth or Sigillum Dei is a large wax disk, on which are inscribed various names of God and angels, within a design of heptagons and heptagrams. This sigil was to be placed in the center of the Holy Table, underneath the scrying-stone. Smaller versions were to be placed underneath the cup-like ends of the table’s legs, apparently to insulate the table from earthly influences.

The Lamen it is to be drawn on a piece of virgin parchment four inches by four inches, the letters in yellow oil paint and the background alternate colors of red and blue to harmonize the lamen with the Holy Table it should be on a golden frame hanging from the neck in a golden chain.

These are the seven ensigns of creation, the “arms of creation” the may either be painted directly upon the top of the Holy Table of Practice or engraved on tablets of purified tin. And later to be placed around the Holy Table of Practice. When consecrating the Seals of the Kings, Prince and Minister you should place them over the corresponding Ensign and proceed as learned.

"All the truely dogmatic religions have issued from the Kabbalah and return to it: everything scientific and grand in the religious dreams of the Illuminati, Jacob Boehme, Swedenborg, Saint-Martin, and others, is borrowed from Kabbalah, all the Masonic associations owe to it their secrets and their symbols." Sovereign Grand Commander Albert Pike 33°, Morals and Dogma, page 744

"Kabbalism is a system of Jewish mysticism and magic and is the foundational element in modern witchcraft. Virtually all of the great witches and sorcerers of this century were Kabbalists." -William J. Schnoebelen, The Dark Side of Freemasonry

Kabbalah is an attempt on the part of some Jewish men and women, to seek the God of Israel through mystical and Gnostic means. For many centuries it was well outside normative Judaism, although today it has permeated into Orthodox Judaism and also claims many 'secular' Jewish (and Gentile) adherents. Kabbalah is a counterfeit of Satan. The main reason for this is that man is seen as having to restore the fallen world by his efforts which will bring about the coming of Messiah. Also, the 'way' to God is accomplished through rigorous fasting and spiritual disciplines that are outside the realm of the Bible. This is common to most false religions that seek union with the Divine. [20]

Kabbalah is a mixture of demonic activity, pagan philosophy, gnosticism and the Hebrew Bible. Kabbalah is, "The mystical religious stream in Judaism... In all periods it was influenced by foreign spiritual currents, such as gnosticism and neoplatonism..." [21]

Gnosticism is a 'secret knowing' designed to entice those into a mystery religion where the doing of certain religious things (asceticism, 'spiritual disciplines, etc.), is 'the way to contact the god' or 'the way to appease the god for sin and guilt' and or 'the way to eternal life.' Kabbalah holds out the same incentive. Kabbalah is nothing more than gnosticism with a Jewish twist to it.

'A distinction was usually made between theoretical and practical Kabbalah; the latter consisted of the use of Divine or Holy Names, the permutation and combination of Hebrew letters, magical formulae (amulets), etc. for healing the sick and other practical purposes and also for eschatological and genuinely mystical ends (hastening the advent of the messiah, inducing states of mystical or ecstatic experience, etc.)

Sorcery and magic are prohibited by the Bible (Exod. 22:17) but the Talmud, while proscribing the practice as heathenish, admits its efficacy. Members of the Sanhedrin were supposed to have had a thorough knowledge of magic and sorcery, and legends are told of rabbis using ‘white’ magic. Healing by magic is condemned only when specifically pagan or idolatrous. The magic of names (Divine names, Tetragrammaton, names of angels, permutations and combinations of Hebrew letters or scriptural quotations), whether in amulets or spoken formulas, flourished at all times but particularly under the influence of Kabbalah… Some scholars believe that the tephillin and mezuzah originated as amulets.

‘The first signs of Jewish mysticism can be fond in the 1st century while the study of the Dead Sea Scrolls may date knowledge on the subject even earlier.’ ‘Jewish mysticism’ was picked up in Babylon. It was Babylonian paganism (the basis for gnosticism), that some Jewish men living in Babylon adopted and adapted to the Hebrew Bible (using the Bible for its Names and numbers, etc.), giving Babylonian gnosticism its ‘Jewish clothes.’ Some of these ‘clothes’ came because of the need of the Jewish People: "The religious syncretism (the mingling and fusion of various oriental religions, mythologies, semi-philosophical notions, etc.) of the period, as well as the messianic speculations encouraged by the national and political disasters in Palestine (sic) fostered a special kind of interest in the Bible which stressed its eschatological and mystical tendencies."

"Over the centuries, The Vatican has accumulated the largest selection of occult books, they have some books that can't be found anywhere else... of course they wont let anybody read them except there own scholars"Interview with an Ex-Vampire Part 4 by Bill Schnoebelen

The name "Grimoire" is derived from the word "Grammar". A grammar is a description of a set of symbols and how to combine them to create well-formed sentences. A Grimoire is, appropriately enough, a description of a set of magickal symbols and how to combine them properly. Most of the texts linked below are descriptions of traditional European ritual magick, which is based on Judeo-Christianity. Even though this must not be confused with neo-Paganism, many of the neo-Pagan traditions use similar rituals and techniques, albeit with a different (usually Celtic) vocabulary. [22]

Grimorium Verum or the Most Approved Keys of Solomon the Hebrew Rabbin, wherein the Most Hidden Secrets, both Natural and Supernatural, are immediately exhibited; but it is necessary that the Demons should be contented on their part. Translated from the Hebrew by Plaingière, a Dominican Jesuit, with a Collection of Curious Secrets. Published by Alibeck the Egyptian. 1517.[23]

The Ars Goetia (Latin, probably: "The Howling Art"), often simply called the Goetia, is the first section of the 17th century grimoire Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis, or The Lesser Key of Solomon. Much of the text appeared earlier, with some material dating to the 14th century or earlier.[24]

Zohar: The Sefer Zohar consists of mystical commentaries and homilies on the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible). It was written by Moses de Leon (13th century AD) but attributed by him to Simon ben Yohai, the great scholar of the 2nd century AD.

Others

Although Ouija boards are viewed by some to be a simple toy, there are many people who believe they can be harmful, even dangerous. Those opposed to the use of Ouija boards claim that the board facilitates contact with evil spirit's or demon's, who masquerade as cooperative ghost's or dead loved ones, then proceed to trick players into becoming spiritually possessed. Others claim that evil spirits or demons can cause a user to start using the Ouija board as though it were a drug (Spiritual Lust), eventually ignoring personal relationships and obligations.
The use of a Ouija board has also been claimed to cause users to go insane. As early as 1924, Harry Houdini wrote that five people from Carrito, California were driven insane by using a board (Harry Houdini, A Magician Among the Spirits 2002 ISBN 1589638956)). That same year, Carl Wickland reported that "the serious problem of alienation and mental derangement attending ignorant psychic experiments was first brought to my attention by cases of several persons whose seemingly harmless experiences with automatic writing and the Ouija board resulted in such wild insanity that commitment to asylums was necessitated."( Carl Wickland, Thirty years Among the Dead 1996 ISBN 0787309656). In 1944, occultistManly P. Hall, the founder of the Philosophical Research Society and an authority on the occult during the early twentieth century, stated in Horizon magazine that, "during the last 20-25 years I have had considerable personal experience with persons who have complicated their lives through dabbling with the Ouija board. Out of every hundred such cases, at least 95 are worse off for the experience." He went on to say that, "I know of broken homes, estranged families, and even suicides that can be traced directly to this source."b( Manly P. Hall, Horizon Magazine, (October-December 1944), pages 76-77). Ouija board users have reported experiences of depression, hearing voices, and seeing apparitions after using the Ouija board. Suicide's, and occasional murder's (See * Natasha Cornett & the Lillelid murders) are sometimes attributed to Ouija board use. Susy Smith Susy Smith claimed in her 1971 autobiography, "Confessions of a Psychic," that use of a Ouija board caused her to become mentally disturbed.
Christians are against the use of Ouija boards, because the Bible forbids all forms of divination (and mingling with spirits). Christians believe that dead person's soul can not be summoned (Hebrews 9:27), and therefore all spirits contacted through the Ouija board are demons trying to harm humans. The late Roman Catholic priest Malachi Martin believed talking boards were dangerous and claimed that by using these devices a person opens themselves to demonic oppression or possession, topics upon which Martin spoke and wrote extensively for many years. Malachi Martin, Hostage to the Devil: The Possession and Exorcism of Five Americans, (HarperSanFrancisco: 1992 ISBN 006065337X). Ouija

The former medical director of the State Insane Asylum of New Jersey, Dr. Curry, stated that the Ouija board was a "dangerous factor" in unbalancing the mind and believed that if their popularity persisted insane asylums would be filled with people who used them.
Decades later, in 1965, parapsychologist Martin Ebon in his book Satan Trap: Dangers of the Occult, states that "it all may start harmlessly enough, perhaps with a Ouija board," which will, "bring startling information... establishing credibility or identifying itself as someone who is dead. It is common that people... as having been 'chosen' for a special task." He continues, "Quite often the Ouija turns vulgar, abusive or threatening. It grows demanding and hostile, and sitters may find themselves using the board compulsively, as if 'possessed' by a spirit, or hearing voices that control or command them."

The amulet is an object ‘worn as a charm against evil, consisting usually of sacred letters or symbols: names of angels or demons are often written in geometric patters, etc. Such charms were common in the ancient Middle East… In the Talmudic and gaonic periods, amulets were widely worn and their use was recognized, though not specifically approved, by rabbis. With the development of the later Kabbalah and its insistence on the efficacy of combinations of letters of the Divine names, the vogue of amulets became universal, and their preparation was regarded as a rabbinic function.[25]

Biblical text references

The Bible not only teaches the existence of the devil but also of a great company of his followers known as demons or evil spirits. These demons originally were holy but with the leader, Satan, they fell away from God. Their ultimate end will be eternal damnation when God judges Satan and his host at the Great White Throne judgment (Rev. 20:10-15).

Demons have certain characteristics revealed by the Bible.

Demons are spirits without bodies.

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Eph. 6:12).

Demons were originally in fellowship with God.

"And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day" (Jude 6).

Demons are numerous.

"For He said unto him, 'Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!' And He was asking him, 'What is your name?' And he said to Him, 'My name is Legion; for we are many' " (Mark 5:8,9).

Demons are organized.

" . . This man casts out demons only by Beelzebub the ruler of the demons" (Matt. 12:24).

Demons have supernatural powers.

"For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the Great Day of God, the Almighty" (Rev. 16:14).

Demons are knowledgeable of God.

"And behold, they cried out, saying, 'What do we have to do with you, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?' "(Matt. 8:29).

Demons are allowed to roam the earth and torment unbelievers.

"Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came'; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept and put in order. Then it goes, and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and five there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first" (Matt. 12:43-45).

Demons sometimes can inflict sickness.

"And as they were going out, behold a dumb man, demon possessed, was brought to Him. And after the demon was cast out, the dumb man spoke - . . " (Matt. 9:32, 33).

Demons can possess or control animals.

" And He gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them, and they were drowned in the sea" (Mark 5:13).

Demons can possess or control human beings.

"And also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses; Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out" (Luke 8:2).

Demons sometimes can cause mental disorders.

"And when He had come out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain ... and constantly night and day among the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out and gashing himself with stones" (Mark 5:2, 3, 5).

Demons know that Jesus Christ is God.

"And just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, 'What do we have to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to, destroy us? I know who you are -- the Holy One of God' " (Mark 1:23, 24).

Demons tremble before God.

"You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder" (James 2:19).

Demons teach false doctrine.

"But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons" (I Tim. 4: 1).

Demons oppose God's people.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12).

Demons attempt to destroy Christ's Kingdom.

"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (I Pet. 5:8).

God takes advantage of the actions of demons to accomplish His divine purposes.

"Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech" (Judg. 9:23).

God is going to judge demons at the last judgment.

"For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment." (2 Pet. 2:4).